Hyderabad
The government of India has allowed booster doses to all eligible populations aged over 18 years from Sunday. But most big hospitals started the drive only on Monday. Major corporate hospitals in the city have between 3,000 and 6,000 vials of vaccine with them right now but now are not sure about restocking more of them fearing poor response.
"For a long time, the COVID-19 cases are the bare minimum, less than 50 in Telangana. The positivity rate across the country is less than 1% The Government even lifted the mandate on wearing a mask. There is absolutely no consciousness about COVID anywhere. At this juncture, we doubt if people would enthusiastically take the booster dose. The first-day reception indicates the same," a source in a big corporate hospital in Jubilee Hills told Nearby News.
The hospitals will look to restock only after the existing stocks were over. Telangana has 2.32 crore people who have completed the second dose. Of them, only 10 lakh are immediately eligible for the booster dose since they have to complete nine months period after the second dose. Both Covaxin and Covishield will cost around 225 Rupees plus a service charge.